MTAhttp://wfuv.org/taxonomy/term/649/0
enCold Temperatures Cause LIRR Delays http://wfuv.org/news/news-politics/150213/cold-temperatures-cause-lirr-delays
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LIRR advises riders to plan for delays/take alternate routes. </div>
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<p>The Long Island Rail Road is reporting system-wide delays due to broken rails.</p>
<p>&nbsp;&nbsp; Transit officials say there were five broken rails that caused 15-20 minute delays.</p>
<p>&nbsp;&nbsp; LIRR spokesman Aaron Donovan says railroad officials need to investigate whether temperatures in the single digits may have contributed to the broken rails. He says cold temperatures are usually a factor in these situations.</p>
<p>&nbsp;&nbsp; Two of the broken rails were in Westbury, one was in Babylon and another was in Great Neck.</p>
<p>&nbsp;&nbsp; The LIRR advises passengers to expect further delays and cancellations as crews work to make repairs.</p>
News & PoliticsLIRRMTAtransportationweatherFri, 13 Feb 2015 16:32:28 +0000Kris Venezia71973 at http://wfuv.orgSome Safety Work at Metro-North Train Crossing Never Donehttp://wfuv.org/news/news-politics/150206/some-safety-work-metro-north-train-crossing-never-done
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Work deferred at deadly crossing. </div>
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The suburban railroad crossing where six people died in a collision between a commuter train and an SUV had undergone a number of upgrades in recent years to reduce the risk of accidents, but some planned work - the installation of a third set of flashing lights - was never done.</div>
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Records obtained by The Associated Press through a Freedom of Information Act request show that in 2009, state transportation officials set aside $126,000 for safety work, including the warning lights. But they were never put in.</div>
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After numerous inquiries from the AP over three days, state and railroad officials were unable to explain why the work wasn&#39;t done. The unspent money was released last year for other rail safety projects.</div>
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The National Transportation Safety Board is still investigating the crash.</div>
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As for whether the extra lights could have prevented the tragedy, state Transportation Department spokesman Beau Duffy said: &quot;There&#39;s a lot of unknowns here. It&#39;s way too early to be guessing about what could have or couldn&#39;t have made a difference.&quot;</div>
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The wreck involved a motorist, Ellen Brody, 49, who stopped her SUV in the crossing after it was struck by one of the descending safety gates. A witness said she got out of the vehicle, inspected the gate, then got back in and drove forward onto the tracks just before the Metro-North train hit.</div>
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She was killed along with five train passengers.</div>
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A funeral was held for Brody at a synagogue in Dobbs Ferry on Friday. Brody worked at a jewelry store and was the mother of three daughters in their teens and 20s. Her her rabbi, Benjy Silverman, called her a &quot;beautiful soul&quot; who &quot;adored her daughters and husband. She was their biggest fan and supporter.&quot;</div>
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The crossing where Tuesday&#39;s crash happened had two sets of flashing red lights that would have been visible to the SUV&#39;s driver. Duffy said the third set was proposed for a spot 100 to 200 feet up the road that would have allowed drivers approaching around a slight bend to see the warning signals a few seconds sooner.</div>
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Duffy said the lighting was proposed as a &quot;proactive&quot; step and &quot;wasn&#39;t in response to any perceived deficiency there.&quot;</div>
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Metro-North spokesman Aaron Donovan said the railroad and the state will continue to look at options for making the crossing safer.</div>
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The Commerce Street crossing is one of three along a stretch of Metro-North&#39;s Harlem line that were targeted for safety improvements about seven years ago, in part because they lie extremely close to the Taconic State Parkway, a four-lane divided highway.</div>
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Drivers approaching the Taconic from Commerce Street bump over the tracks, then have just a few car-lengths of space before they reach the traffic light controlling access to the parkway.</div>
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All grade-level rail crossings are inherently dangerous, but those less than 200 feet from traffic lights are considered especially problematic because of the danger of cars screeching to a halt in dangerous positions.</div>
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In 2008, new traffic signal control equipment was installed at Commerce Street to ensure that drivers trying to get out of the crossing wouldn&#39;t be blocked by a red light at the intersection ahead. The system also prevents traffic backups at the crossing from spilling back onto the Taconic, according to the Transportation Department and Metro-North&#39;s parent agency.</div>
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Metro-North said it also replaced the flashing red lights at the crossing with brighter LED models. And in 2010 the town of Mount Pleasant, where the crossing is located, installed two signs there saying, &quot;Do not stop on tracks.&quot;</div>
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At a news conference at the crossing Friday, Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., said the question of what happened to the proposed lights is &quot;something that we have to find out the answer to right away.&quot;</div>
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&quot;Why wasn&#39;t the work done? Would it have made a difference? Could it have made this preventable? It&#39;s a looming question,&quot; he said.</div>
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News & PoliticscrashMetro-NorthMTANTSBtrainValhallawestchester countyFri, 06 Feb 2015 21:24:00 +0000Jeff Coltin71672 at http://wfuv.orgMetro North Taps Advocate for Waterbury Branchhttp://wfuv.org/news/news-politics/140724/metro-north-taps-advocate-waterbury-branch
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Attention finally coming to "neglected" line? </div>
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<p>Commuters angry at what they call substandard service on the Waterbury branch of Metro-North Railroad scored a victory Thursday with the announcement that the line will have its own advocate.</p>
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<p>Mike Donnarumma, who was appointed by Metro-North as district superintendent on the New Haven Line, will be responsible for paying particular attention to the Waterbury branch line, officials said.</p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14px;">Donnarumma said his goal is &quot;to provide the best service possible to the Waterbury branch and to be a go-between to the customers and the railroad.&quot;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14px;">He worked at the Waterbury Chamber of Commerce and Connecticut Department of Transportation before joining Metro-North in 2007.</span></p>
<p>The announcement was cheered by a commuter and an activist.</p>
<p>&quot;I think this is all a step in the right direction,&quot; said Roger Cirella, a paralegal who commutes between his home in Ansonia and East Norwalk.</p>
<p>Jim Cameron, a commuter advocate who has criticized Metro-North and the Department of Transportation, praised the appointment of an advocate for the Waterbury line.</p>
<p>&quot;Any attention that can be paid to this neglected line is going to be a welcome improvement,&quot; he said.</p>
<p>However, both Cirella and Cameron said they believe election-year politics figured in the appointment of an advocate. Gov. Dannel P. Malloy is seeking a second term and state legislators also will be on the Nov. 4 ballot.</p>
<p>&quot;It&#39;s an election year,&quot; Cameron said. &quot;What can I say?&quot;</p>
<p>Malloy acknowledged complaints by riders who are angry at the frequent use of buses to substitute for out-of-service trains.</p>
<p>&quot;Commuters on the Waterbury line have expressed their frustration, and for good reason,&quot; the governor said. &quot;The state of this line is quite frankly unacceptable.&quot;</p>
<p>Major improvements to the line, including a new signal system, have begun.</p>
<p>Commuter trips on the Waterbury line have more than doubled, from 190,000 a year 10 years ago to about 400,000 now.</p>
News & PoliticsCommutersConnecticutConnecticut Governor Dannel MalloyMetro NorthMTANew YorkTrainsWaterburyThu, 24 Jul 2014 21:45:51 +0000Jeff Coltin63068 at http://wfuv.orgLIRR Strike Avertedhttp://wfuv.org/news/news-politics/140717/lirr-strike-averted
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LIRR riders can commute normally n Monday </div>
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<p>A tentative deal was reached Thursday that averts a strike by workers at the nation&#39;s largest commuter railroad, a top union negotiator said.</p>
<p>&nbsp;Anthony Simon told The Associated Press about the tentative agreement with the Long Island Rail Road.</p>
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<p>Gov. Andrew Cuomo got involved in negotiations Wednesday. He said Thursday morning that time was running short to resolve the contract dispute before the strike deadline of 12:01 a.m. Sunday.</p>
<p>Cuomo had said everything must be done to prevent the railroad&#39;s 300,000 daily riders &quot;from being held hostage&quot; by a strike.</p>
<p>He planned a 1:15 p.m. news conference to discuss the deal.</p>
<p>&nbsp;The railroad&#39;s 5,400 unionized workers have been without a contract since 2010.</p>
<p>The talks resumed Wednesday and went late into the night after two days of increased tension and bleak prospects for resolution stemming from a railroad proposal to make future employees contribute to their to health and pension plans.</p>
<p>&nbsp;President Barack Obama appointed two emergency boards to help resolve the dispute, in December 2013 and May of this year, but the MTA rejected both nonbinding recommendations. The emergency board&#39;s last proposal called for a 17 percent raise over six years while leaving work rules and pensions alone.</p>
<p>The MTA offered a 17 percent wage increase over seven years but also wants pension and health care concessions, which both sides agree is the sticking point holding up an agreement.</p>
News & PoliticsAssociated PresscommuteGovernor Andrew CuomoLIRRLIRR strikeLong IslandMTANew YorkNew York CityPenn StationrailroadThu, 17 Jul 2014 17:40:38 +0000Jeff Coltin62745 at http://wfuv.orgGovernor Cuomo Taking "See How it Goes" Approach to Possible LIRR Strikehttp://wfuv.org/news/news-politics/140715/governor-cuomo-taking-see-how-it-goes-approach-possible-lirr-strike
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A transit strike could begin Sunday. </div>
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<p>Anxiety is growing among the nearly 300,000 daily riders caught in the middle of a labor dispute involving the Long Island Road.</p>
<p>&nbsp;&nbsp; Unions have threatened a strike at 12:01 a.m. Sunday unless they get a new contract.</p>
<p>&nbsp;&nbsp; No talks were scheduled Tuesday between the unions and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. That&#39;s the agency that operates the LIRR.</p>
<p>&nbsp;&nbsp; Gov. Andrew Cuomo says he is taking a &quot;see how it goes&quot; approach to the dispute.</p>
<p>&nbsp;&nbsp; The governor noted that talks often go to the brink before there is a resolution.</p>
<p>&nbsp;&nbsp; State comptroller Thomas DiNapoli says a strike could cost up to $50 million in lost economic activity each day.</p>
<p>&nbsp;&nbsp; And the head of the Long Island Rail Road Commuter Council complained that riders are being forgotten by both sides.</p>
News & PoliticsGovernor Andrew CuomoLIRRLIRR strikeLong IslandMTANew YorkNew York CitytransportationTue, 15 Jul 2014 19:28:53 +0000Kris Venezia62644 at http://wfuv.orgMorning Brief: July 15http://wfuv.org/news/news-politics/140715/morning-brief-july-15
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Music of the Clouds </div>
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<p>Bronxites (and anybody who wants, really), will be treated to some beautiful music from the New York Philharmonic in Van Cortlandt Park tonight&mdash;but only if the weather holds up.&nbsp; A planned show for Central Park last night was rained out, so classical music fans will be praying for a dry evening.&nbsp; If it happens, it&rsquo;ll be 8-9:30.&nbsp; Enter from Broadway, near 251<sup>st</sup> as the site is north of the ball fields. &nbsp;Entrance is free.</p>
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<p><strong>WEATHER</strong></p>
<p>Scattered thunderstorms expected to start around breakfast and last all day and into the night. 84/71[<a href="http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=40.7143528&amp;lon=-74.0059731&amp;site=all&amp;smap=1&amp;searchresult=New%20York%2C%20NY%2C%20USA">full forecast</a>].</p>
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<p><strong>NEED TO KNOW</strong></p>
<p>Be careful with all this rain, there&rsquo;s a flash flood watch in effect until tonight. <a href="http://www.google.org/publicalerts/alert?aid=527152a36ba01655&amp;hl=en&amp;gl=us&amp;source=web">[Google Alert]</a>.</p>
<p>Talks have broken down between the MTA and the LIRR workers unions, and a strike is almost sure to happen starting Sunday[<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/15/nyregion/talks-falter-between-lirr-unions-and-mta-.html?_r=0">New York Times</a>].</p>
<p>Israel may accept a proposed ceasefire with Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip [<a href="http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2014/07/14/331411652/reports-israel-may-accept-ceasefire-proposal-from-egypt">NPR</a>].</p>
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<p><strong>SPORTS</strong></p>
<p>The AL stars take on the NL stars in baseball&rsquo;s annual All-Star game.&nbsp; Live from Minnesota at 8 P.M. on Fox.</p>
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<p><strong>ON STAGE TONIGHT</strong></p>
<p><strong>-</strong>Cracker and Camper Van Beethoven featuring David Lowery, Johnny Hickman and Greg Lisher (with Lydia Loveless) @ the Fairfield Theatre Company&rsquo;s StageOne</p>
<p>-The Dirty Dozen Brass Band @ the Blue Note</p>
<p>-The James Hunter Six @ Iridium</p>
<p>-Camera Obscura with Laura Cantrell @ Le Poisson Rouge</p>
<p>-The Bacon Brothers (with Cindy Alexander) @ City Winery</p>
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<p><strong>TODAY IN HISTORY</strong></p>
<p>On this day in 2006, Twitter is launched.&nbsp; It would go on to become one of the largest social networks in the world. #HappyBirthday!</p>
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<p><em>WFUV&#39;s Morning Brief is published each weekday morning at 5 a.m. Do you have an event or news item that should be included?&nbsp;Email&nbsp;JColtin@wfuvnews.org or leave a comment below.</em></p>
News & PoliticsBronxCamera ObscuraCrackerDirty Dozen Brass BandIsraelJames Hunter SixLIRR strikeMorning BriefMTANew York CityNew York City Philharmonic OrchestraVan Cortlandt ParkTue, 15 Jul 2014 09:00:00 +0000Jeff Coltin62603 at http://wfuv.orgUnions: Prepare for LIRR Strikehttp://wfuv.org/news/news-politics/140714/unions-prepare-lirr-strike
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Talks with the MTA break down. Unions plan to strike Sunday. </div>
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<p>Unions negotiating with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority said Monday that talks aimed at avoiding a walkout at the nation&#39;s largest commuter railroad have collapsed.</p>
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<p>Anthony Simon, the workers&#39; chief negotiator, said the eight Long Island Rail Road unions are now proceeding with strike plans.</p>
<p>MTA Chairman and CEO Thomas Prendergast planned to comment on the talks later Monday at MTA headquarters in Manhattan.</p>
<p>The unions representing 5,400 workers have said they intend to strike unless an agreement is reached by July 20. Simon said it appears a strike is likely.</p>
<p>A strike could affect 300,000 daily riders, most of whom travel in and out of New York City from Long Island.</p>
<p>Last week, several members of the New York House delegation in Washington met with the head of the railroad&#39;s organization, telling him that the two sides should not count on Congress to resolve the long-running contract dispute.</p>
<p>The railroad&#39;s unions have been working without a contract since 2010. President Barack Obama appointed two emergency boards to help resolve the dispute, but the railroad&#39;s parent organization rejected both non-binding recommendations, and the unions voted to authorize a strike.</p>
<p>Gov. Andrew Cuomo indicated previously that he would not intervene in the dispute.</p>
News & PoliticscommuteCommutersLIRRLIRR strikeLong IslandMTANew YorkNew York CityPrendergastUnionsMon, 14 Jul 2014 17:58:59 +0000Jeff Coltin62573 at http://wfuv.orgBig and Small Businesses Alike Stand to Suffer from Possible LIRR Strikehttp://wfuv.org/news/lirr/140711/big-and-small-businesses-alike-stand-suffer-possible-lirr-strike
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<p>George Santos owns Ryders Joe Deli. It&#39;s located right next to the train station in New Hyde Park, just outside of Queens. He said if Long Island Rail Road workers strike, it would be devastating for his business.</p>
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<p>&quot;Ninety percent of our business is commuters, trying to catch the train, knowing them on a first name basis, sometimes letting them go without paying and they&#39;ll catch us the next day,&quot; Santos said before greeting one of his regular customers and striking up a conversation about the World Cup.</p>
<p>Santos has just one of any number of businesses on Long Island and in New York City that will get hit hard by a strike. Matt Cohen is with the <a href="http://www.longislandassociation.org/">Long Island Association</a>, and he said&nbsp; a one day strike might only be an inconvenience, but he fears what a longer strike would mean for businesses in the Big Apple.</p>
<p>&quot;New York City and Long Island economy are inextricably linked and the city is going to have it hard,&quot; Cohen said.</p>
<p>Cohen said whether it&#39;s a local store on the island or a larger business in the city, everyone will feel the effects of the strike if a deal is not made by the July 20 deadline.</p>
<p>Thursday was the last day the MTA and LIRR unions sat down with negotiators. Although the unions have put a counterproposal on the table, a deal was not yet reached and the next negotiation day is not known.</p>
LIRRLIRR strikeLong IslandLong Island AssociationMTANew Hyde ParkFri, 11 Jul 2014 20:42:46 +0000Rebecca Lewis62485 at http://wfuv.orgM.T.A. Invests in Service Improvementshttp://wfuv.org/news/news-politics/130722/mta-invests-service-improvements
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<p>The Metropolitan Transportation Authority will use state money to fund a service improvement package for the second year in a row, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Monday. The M.T.A.&rsquo;s plan includes increased bus, subway and commuter train service, as well as enhanced customer satisfaction through new technology and cleaner stations. The transportation authority&rsquo;s total investment package is valued at $18 million.</p>
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<p>&ldquo;For the second year in a row, the state has invested in significant enhancements and expansions to our state&rsquo;s transit system that will improve the experience of the eight million commuters who use the MTA,&rdquo; Cuomo said in a statement.</p>
<p>Some planned improvements included in the investment package: increased service on the G and M trains, as well as five new weekday trains on the Long Island Rail Road. Additionally, the investment &ldquo;includes $11 million in enhancements to the customer experience at stations and in new technology to make it easier for customers loading and waiting,&rdquo; according to a statement.</p>
<p>Thomas Prendergast, the chairman and chief executive of the M.T.A., says the transportation authority is dedicated to listening to customers and improving service accordingly.</p>
<p>&ldquo;We are committed to aggressively reducing our costs, and to strengthening service whenever we have sustainable resources to do so,&rdquo; Prendergast said in a statement.</p>
News & PoliticsMTAtrainMon, 22 Jul 2013 17:40:29 +0000Connor Ryan45962 at http://wfuv.orgIn Wake of Accidents, Metro-North Railroad to Install Safety Deviceshttp://wfuv.org/news/news-politics/130621/wake-accidents-metro-north-railroad-install-safety-devices
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Metro-North Railroad to install safety devices on New Haven Line tracks. </div>
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<p>Metro-North Railroad announced Friday morning in a letter addressed to Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) that it would begin installing shunts, safety devices that are meant to provide added protection for track workers in construction areas, within the next month on parts of its New Haven Line.</p>
<p>The letter comes days after the National Transportation Safety Board and Blumenthal urged Metro-North to install the signal protection devices.</p>
<p>&ldquo;This step will help save lives,&rdquo; Blumenthal said Friday in a statement. &ldquo;It should be followed by more technologically advanced measures that enable trains to be warned and stopped when workers or others are in danger.&rdquo;</p>
<p>Robert Luden, a track foreman, was killed by a train last month near a station that was under construction. Blumenthal says had this safety measure been in place then, it would have likely saved Luden&rsquo;s life.</p>
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News & PoliticsMetro NorthMTAsafetySenator BlumenthalshuntingtracksTrainsFri, 21 Jun 2013 17:03:13 +0000Connor Ryan44455 at http://wfuv.orgLeader of Subway Cleanup Chosen to be Next Chairman of M.T.A.http://wfuv.org/news/news-politics/130413/leader-subway-cleanup-chosen-be-next-chairman-mta
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Thomas Prendergast, formerly the president of New York City transit, is choice to replace Joseph Lhota as chairman of M.T.A. </div>
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<p>In an announcement made Friday, Governor Andrew Cuomo nominated Thomas Prendergast to serve as the next chairman and chief executive officer of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.</p>
<p>Prendergast, who first began working as a New York City transit official in 1982, stepped in as the authority&#39;s interim executive director after the former chairman Joseph Lhota resigned last December to run for mayor of New York City. Prendergast has also served as president of the Long Island Railroad and president of New York City transit.</p>
<p>&quot;Tom Prendergast is a consummate public transit leader who is the ideal candidate to oversee the nation&#39;s largest transportation system,&quot; Gov. Cuomo said in a statement on Friday. &quot;The M.T.A plays a vital role in New York&#39;s economy and the daily lives of the millions of commuters who use its services. Tom has vast experience in infrastructure and transportation and has spent years managing commuter railroads as well as New York City&#39;s subways and buses.&quot;</p>
<p>Prendergast, who called the appointment &quot;an incredible honor,&quot; said Friday that he has high hopes for the future of the transit authority.</p>
<p>&quot;The MTA will improve the customer experience, operate more efficiently and build for the future,&quot; Prendergast said in a statement. &quot;And we will aggressively rebuild smarter and better in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy.&quot;</p>
<p>Before officially accepting the job, Prendergast must first be confirmed by the Senate.</p>
<p>Lhota, who served as chief of the M.T.A. for a little more than a year, said Friday that he had relied on Prendergast more than any other transit official.</p>
<p>&quot;Tom Prendergast is a superb choice and he has a unique understanding of the system,&quot; Lhota told The New York Observer on Friday.</p>
<p>He also said that Prendergast played a large role in restoring New York City&#39;s damaged transit system following Superstorm Sandy in October.</p>
<p>&quot;The reason the subway system responded so quicky coming back was Tom&#39;s leadership,&quot; Lhota said to The New York Times on Friday. &quot;[Prendergast] cares more about the M.T.A.&#39;s customers than anyone I know.&quot;</p>
<p>Mayor Michael Bloomberg spoke broadly about Prendergast&#39;s strong relationship with New York City.</p>
<p>&quot;For years, Tom Prendergast has proven to be an effective leader who brings a unique, deep understanding of MTA operations and can build upon the progress achieved by his predecessors,&quot; Bloomberg said in a statement. &quot;From expanding Select Bus Service routes to the extension of the Number 7 train, the City has worked collaboratively and successfully in the past with Tom, and we look forward to continuing the relationship.&quot;</p>
<p><a href="http://www.governor.ny.gov/press/04122013-cuomo-nominates-mta-chairman-and-ceo">Click here for Governor Cuomo&#39;s full announcement.</a></p>
News & PoliticsBloombergLhotaMTAsubwayTrainstransitSat, 13 Apr 2013 10:00:00 +0000Connor Ryan40753 at http://wfuv.orgSouth Ferry Subway Station To Finally Openhttp://wfuv.org/news/news-politics/130403/south-ferry-subway-station-finally-open
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NYC's old South Ferry subway station is reopening six months after being inundated by Superstorm Sandy. </div>
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<p>There&#39;s good news for commuters who&#39;ve been without a major transit link at the southern tip of Manhattan since Superstorm Sandy.</p>
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<p>The old South Ferry Station is being reopened on Thursday morning.</p>
<p>Sandy caused massive damage to the new $500 million South Ferry station that opened in 2009. It&#39;s closed for a three-year rebuilding.</p>
<p>South Ferry is the last stop on the No. 1 train. It&#39;s a critical link for commuters taking the Staten Island ferry. The closure has forced many to walk several blocks uptown to a catch a train.</p>
<p>The Metropolitan Transportation Authority made the announcement Wednesday.</p>
News & PoliticsManhattanMTASouth Ferry Stationsuperstorm SandyWed, 03 Apr 2013 21:13:17 +0000Claudia Morell40296 at http://wfuv.orgNew York City Braces for Potential Blizzardhttp://wfuv.org/news/news-politics/130208/new-york-city-braces-potential-blizzard
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Residents are preparing for the first major storm of the season </div>
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<p>New Yorkers are rolling with the punches as a nasty winter storm moves through the region.</p>
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<p>After Superstorm Sandy, New York City residents are preparing the best they can for the expected blizzard. The storm could potentially drop 10 to 14 inches of snow across all five boroughs starting Friday and continuing through Saturday morning.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Bronx Resident Gabriella Santiago said she changed her weekend plans because she&#39;s worried trains will be canceled.<br />
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&quot;It&#39;s good that people are preparing, it&#39;s better to be over prepared than under prepared,&quot; said Santiago.&nbsp; &quot;I&#39;m just going to go to work then come home because I don&#39;t want to get stuck in the city.&quot;<br />
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Other residents are making sure the fridge was full for the weekend.&nbsp; Anthony Jones stocked up on food supplies.<br />
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&quot;Went shopping, filled the refrigerator up, planning on staying in the weekend,&quot; said Jones. &quot;Hopefully it&#39;ll be better by Monday.&quot;</p>
<p>City officials warned residents to expect delays and cancellations at airports and other transportation hubs.&nbsp; The Metropolitan Transportation Authority is taking precautions and planning on shutting down some subway lines into Friday evening.<br />
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News & PoliticsMTANew York CitySnowstormFri, 08 Feb 2013 21:30:37 +0000Katie Fisher37511 at http://wfuv.orgSouth Ferry Subway Repairs Could Take 3 Yearshttp://wfuv.org/news/news-politics/130118/south-ferry-subway-repairs-could-take-3-years
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Fixing the South Street Subway expected to take 3 years. </div>
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<p>Fixing all the damage inflicted on the South Street subway station by Superstorm Sandy may take up to three years.</p>
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<p>Last month, the MTA said the repairs would take at least a year.&nbsp; But on Thursday, the agency said it estimates that fully restoring the station would take much longer and cost $600 million.</p>
<p>That includes $350 million for physical repairs; $200 million for signal replacement; $30 million for third-rail equipment and $20 million for line equipment. The South Ferry subway station, at Manhattan&#39;s southern tip, was inundated with water up to its ceiling during the storm.</p>
<p>The No. 1 train station underwent a $545 million renovation and expansion in 2009.&nbsp; The station is a major conduit to the Staten Island and Liberty Island ferries.</p>
News & PoliticsMTARepairsSouth FerrysubwayFri, 18 Jan 2013 12:59:19 +0000Robin Shannon36370 at http://wfuv.orgEx-Transit Chief Makes Mayoral Run Officialhttp://wfuv.org/news/news-politics/130117/ex-transit-chief-makes-mayoral-run-official
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Lhota Appears to Republican Front Runner </div>
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<p>The former transit official who led the New York City subway system&#39;s recovery from Superstorm Sandy filed paperwork Thursday making his bid for mayor official.</p><!--break-->
<p>Former Metropolitan Transportation Authority Chairman Joseph Lhota appears to be leading among Republican candidates vying to replace Mayor Michael Bloomberg, but will be challenged by Democrats in a city where they&#39;re strong</p>
<p>Lhota is a 58-year-old Bronx native who grew up on Long Island. A graduate of Georgetown University and Harvard Business School, he&#39;s the son of a New York police lieutenant.</p>
<p>He supports same-sex marriage and abortion rights, but is considered fiscally conservative - in favor of keeping the lid on city spending.</p>
<p>Under Rudy Giuliani, Lhota was a deputy mayor and budget director. He later went into business as a top executive at Cablevision and Madison Square Garden and took on the MTA post in 2011.</p>
<p>With Bloomberg term-limited, the field for November&#39;s election already includes several other declared and likely candidates - including City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, Public Advocate Bill de Blasio and Bill Thompson, a former city comptroller. All are Democrats.</p>
<p>Lhota stands out as a public official who says what he thinks - bluntly.&nbsp; He once displayed his middle finger to a reporter at City Hall.</p>
<p>On the day of the Sept. 11 terrorist attack, he rushed to lower Manhattan to help direct traffic amid the emergency.</p>
<p>After Hurricane Sandy, Lhota is credited with saving subway service by shutting down the system before the storm.</p>
News & PoliticsBloombergJoe LhotamayorMTANYCRudy GiulianiThu, 17 Jan 2013 23:13:44 +0000Jerry Barmash36352 at http://wfuv.org